"Recycled, Renewed" Further Thoughts

This week our North Georgia conference "Monday Morning" shared my devotion based on our recent time in the Manila area of the Philippines. We've seen a good response to the story as the various themes of "Recycled, Renewed" has stuck a chord with folk.

You can easily pair the story up with any number of Scripture if you want to use this in a devotion, class, or sermon. Romans 12:1-3 or Ephesians 5:1-2 come to mind for me. The road to Emmaus passage in Luke 24 fits the scene of walking together and Jesus who is present. The ripple impact of Christian witness and the impact of our mission and ministry is another rich element to me in my brief story with Ronnel. Whether Great Commission, or cloud of witnesses (Hebrew 12), or another passage with focus on our place in the salvation drama today, we can be inspired and renewed in our commitment to active ministry in the community.

Of course, a passage which leaps out to match the story could be from Isaiah 40:28-31(NIV)

28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Discussion questions might be:

•  how do you as an individual, and your congregation, engage in similar outreach ministry in their own community? 
• who has your church adopted in the past into the life of the congregation by meeting needs and building relationships? who are you currently getting to know and reaching?
• how are you personally being recycled and renewed today? how is your congregation being recycle and renewed today? is your congregation a community "recycling and renewing" place? If not, what would it take for your church to become known in the community as a people of life transformation? 

Enjoy the experience and participation you and your congregation may have as you learn from Ronnel and the Filipino United Methodists and experience this style ministry that fits your own community.